Taking Holiday Loneliness - to the throne of God

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:

Is it really necessary to gather your family and friends together for special events and Holidays? 

Is the event even about them? Isn’t a Birthday just about YOU? Your Anniversary just about you and your spouse?

5 SIMPLE TRUTHS:

(1) Christmas - is ONLY about the birth of Jesus

(2) Thanksgiving - is ONLY about the Pilgrims landing in America

(3) Weddings - are ONLY about one couple

(4) Anniversary’s - are ONLY about one couple

(5) Birthdays - are ONLY about one person 

THE REALITY OF THOSE TRUTHS:

For those of us that cherish our friends and family - we want to be together for these moments.

That is not only normal - its how God wired us, to seek fellowship.

There is nothing strange or selfish about your desire to gather with those you love.

We all want that place of belonging and being treasured by our loved ones. 

IT’S OK TO CRY:

If you're alone because someone close to you has died, or because your marriage or relationship has ended, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. If you can’t be with your children or parents at a distance, realize that it’s normal to feel sad. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season. 

LET GOD THE FATHER CARRY YOU THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT HOLIDAY: 

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

TAKE ACTION………..

(1) REJOICE IN THE LORD - Play great worship music in your home and car. Study God’s Word and celebrate that Christ HAS come to free us from our sins and fears—to deliver us from the power of Satan, hell and death.

(2) VOLUNTEER - You don't have to be alone at the holidays. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, your Church or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. Volunteer your time to serve or deliver holidays meals for people in need. Ask your local hospital if the children's ward needs volunteers. 

(3) DECORATE OR BAKE - Don’t tell yourself that it's not worth decorating or cooking when it's just you (maybe spouse too). Trust me, the lack of any festivity will make you feel more helpless. What's wrong with decorating your place or cooking a special meal just for yourselves? Chances are that doing the holiday activities that you're used to doing with family or friends will give you a lift. 

(4) TELL SOMEONE - Don't hide the fact that you're spending the holiday/event away from family, tell someone. And don’t be afraid to tell someone that you need them. It’s okay to invite yourself.

(5) OUT OF YOUR HOUSE - Line up a special treat for yourself, like a concert, a massage, a short trip or something else that will get you out of the house and make the day memorable. 

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(6) CHILDLIKE - Do some of the things that you did as a child, like watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, go ice skating, take a bubble bath, read a good book, make Christmas cookies, hot chocolate or popcorn balls.

All these tips have help me, and I hope they help you!

But all LONELINESS has brought me (and still brings me) to the throne of God. Even if I’d never had a family to share my Holidays with, I have my place as a child of God. I belong to Christ. And He is also mine. We are family, we are one. And with Him I will always be home!!!!

I pray if you are lonely and hurting this holiday season to be comforted by peace in knowing Jesus Christ. I pray that God would provide relief to aching hearts as He sets the solitary in families. He’s done (still doing) that for me and I know He’s faithful to be near to the brokenhearted and save those whose spirits are crushed!!! REJOICE IN HIM!!!!

NEED A GREAT STUDY BIBLE?

A Beautiful Bible - I truly enjoy reading it with it's footnotes, maps, inserts about the people etc...I high recommend this study bible!

Tyndale's Chronological Life Application Study Bible NLT is a remarkable resource. 

I’m far from a Bible scholar, but I absolutely love this Bible! The overview of the periods is clear and informative yet concise. This Bible is easy to navigate and a great way to change up the way we study.

AN ENJOYABLE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE

Have you read the book "The Story" yet?

It helps you to chronologically follow the main plot line of the Bible.

This is a wonderful book if you want something that is easy reading. It is like the Bible in novel form. 

NOT a replacement for regular Bible reading but a nice way to get an overview of the Bible in a short period of time.

While I'd suggest that everyone read the entire Bible (KJV is my favorite) I can also recommend reading "The Story" as a quick way to familiarize yourself with all the main stories the Bible offers.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD - IS MORE THAN JUST A CLICHÉ. God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God's great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accessible text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. And like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption; and this story is true! ... From the foreword by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee: This book tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time: the story of a true God who loves his children, who established for them a way of salvation and provided a route to eternity. Each story in these 31 chapters reveals the God of grace the God who speaks; the God who acts; the God who listens; the God whose love for his people culminated in his sacrifice of Jesus, his only Son, to atone for the sins of humanity. ... Features: The story of the Bible in its own words. Selections from the NIV Bible with short transitions to connect the reader to the continuing story. Events, characters, and teachings of the Bible arranged chronologically Timelines of Bible events New International Version (NIV) Bible text Church families around the globe can now embrace The Story for a full ministry year through worship services, small group studies, and family activities. 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR PRAYER LIFE?

You will be blessed by a book my Pastor Lynne co-authored - “Secrets to Powerful Prayer”

I have read many books on prayer, but this is one of the best I've seen for getting into the practical essentials of biblical prayer.

Our Pastor Lynne and her husband Pastor Mac - have influenced Scott and my Prayer Life, like none other!!!!

I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone looking to understand prayer on a deeper level or to anyone teaching or leading a prayer group..........

Why Go To Church?

Pam's Page 38 - "Family Life"
Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something!

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!